Track-fastener.



WILLIAM DENNIS HUTOIIINS, OF BLOOMBURG, TEXAS.

TRACK-FASTENER.

Specification oil-Letters Patent.

Patented July 14:, 1908.

Application filed March 17, 1908. SerialNo. 421,683.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, WVILLIAM D. HUTOH- INS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bloo'mburg, in the county of Cass and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Track-Fasteners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in metallic track fasteners and has for an object to provide a novel device of this character which will effectually hold the rails to the supporting ties.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel device of this character which may be employed to produce a joint for the meeting ends of rails.

It is a further object of the invention to rovide a novel device of this character which will be sim le in construction effective in practice anc economical to manufacture.

\Vith the above and other objects in view the invention consists of the details of construction and in the novel arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter referred to.

In describing the invention in detail reference will be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in the several views, and in which,

Figure 1 is a view in top plan of a trackway showing the invention applied. 'Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through one of the ties illustrating the means employed in effecting a rail joint. Fig. 3 is a view in perspective, detached, of the track fastener employed in conjunction with the oint. Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of an end of a tie employed in conjunction with the joint.

In the drawings 1 denotes ties of ordinary construction and 2 the ties employed in effecting a joint of the meeting ends of rails, said ties being positioned adjacent said meeting ends as is shown-in Fig. 1.

The ordinary clamping plates are of a structure similar to the fish plates commonly known excepting that each plate has a centrally projecting portion 3 of approximately the same width as the supporting tie through which asses a vertically arranged bolt 4, said bo t also assing through the tie. This bolt is inserte through the tie with the head therebeneath so that the threaded portion of the bolt will be exposed in order to expedite the application of the nut 5. The portions of the plate adjacent the extension 3 are pro vided with down turned flanges 6 which snugly or tightly bear against the base of the rail. It-might be also well to state that the base of the rails is seated within transverse recesses or pockets formed in the upper surfaces of the tie as is well known.

When the fastener is em ,loyed for effecting a joint it is of such lengt as to rest upon both of the ties 2. Adjacent the meeting ends of the rails the fastener is provided with the perforated web engaging portion 7 hav ing openings 8 therein for the passage of the usual clamping bolts. The base portion 9 of the fastener is provided with spaced extensions 10 adapted to rest on each of the ties 2. The member is further provided between the extensions 10 with a flange 11 and on its outer portion with a flange 12. These flanges 11 and 12 are adapted to engage with the base of the rail as has been hereinbefore referred to with reference to the clamp fasteners 3.

The extensions 10 are provided with perforations 13 through which pass the upper or threaded ends of the bolts 14. These bolts 14 also pass through elongated plates 15 and the ties 2. The lates 15 are positioned within longitudina grooves 16 having their ends in communication with the transverse pockets 17 in which the bases of the rails rest. The outer edge of each of the pockets 17 is provided with an apron 18 to en age the upper surface of the base of the ra' while the opposite edge 19 is straight or vertical. This is done to permit the ready insertion of the base of the rail within the pockets. The plate 15 affords the opposite clamp and has its ends recessed as at 20 to engage the inner flange of the base as is fully shown in the sectional Fig. 2.

What I claim is:

In combination with the meeting ends of rails, supporting ties therefor having trans verse pockets in which the bases of the rails rest, and having a longitudinal groove communicat'mg with the pockets, and a plate resting Within the grooi e and engaging the 'In testimony whereof I have signed my inner flanges of the rails, and track fasteners name to this specification in the presence of arranged on opposite sides of the rai1s,each two subscribing Witnesses.

of said fasteners having extensions resting on WILLIAM DENNIS HUTUHIN S. 5 the ties, and securing Ineans passing through Witnesses:

the ties and the extensions, certain of the J. I. ALLEN,

fastening means passing through the plate. J. W. GROGAN. 

